The Whole Bolivian Army

Home: Seattle, Washington USA

Let's start with Boy meets girl. Girl says she can sing. Boy invites girl to mom's basement for quick tryout with newly forming band. Girl sings, boy falls in love. The Whole Bolivian Army is born! (Cue soundtrack...) Indie rock, modern rock, left-of-center pop. Influences include U2, Kate Bush, Radiohead, and Throwing Muses. TWBA has been compared to The Sundays, 10,000 Maniacs, Veruca Salt, Garbage, and Souxie and the Banshees. None of the comparisons are quite on the mark. TWBA's sound is elastic and changes from album to album, from muscular indie rock to lovely pop.

Q. What's in a name?

A. The Whole Bolivian Army owes its name to original bass player and co-founder Steve Miller. The name itself is a reference to the final scene in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, when the two American outlaws are surrounded by what seems like the entire armed forces of Bolivia.

Q. When did the band form?

A. 1993.

Q. Who is The Whole Bolivian Army?

A. TWBA is led by the wife-and-husband team of Mary Beth (vocals) and Matt Kite (guitar, songwriter). The rest of the lineup varies from project to project, show to show. TWBA has seen several incarnations, both as a five-piece and four-piece band.

This straight-ahead indie rocker/ballad features passionate female vocals, old-school guitar tones, and a dynamic arrangement. Reminiscent of Sheryl Crow — but with a little more fire. Suitable for drama, romance, relationships, break-ups. A song about being lost and not fitting in. Female Vocals, Indie Rock Music, Alternative Rock

This bittersweet piano ballad features gorgeous female vocals and a long, melancholy outro. Lyrics explore the love of two people who stay together until the very end. Suitable for romance, drama, relationships, medical, terminal, deathbed. Female Vocals, Pop Music, Lilith Fair

Big, rowdy guitars, pounding drums, and a galloping bass line ignite this indie rock anthem, a tribute to girl power. Righteous female vocals take no prisoners. Perfect for that emotionally charged moment when the leading woman fights back, kicks butt, or claims the right to her own destiny. Female Vocals, Indie Rock Music, Alternative Rock

This up-tempo ballad features passionate female vocals, chiming guitars, and slick production. Instrumentation includes cello, fretless bass. Lyrics explore how difficult it is to watch a loved one die. Suitable for drama, medical, especially a deathbed scene set in a hospital, hospice, or home. Female Vocals, Rock Music, Modern Rock

An ode to Pete Townshend, this lush indie rock song begins softly, with The Edge-like echo guitar. Segues to a quirky, gritty middle section. Then closes out triumphantly. Winsome female vocals span a wide lyrical terrain, from anger to alcoholism, before giving way to a refrain sung in Latin. Female Vocals, Indie Rock Music, Alternative Rock